Mariah Carey may fancy herself the queen of Christmas, but this season she’s getting a run for her stockings from Lea Michele.
The Bronx-born “Glee” alum, 33, has been all over the holiday this year: After releasing her “Christmas in the City” album, she appeared at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and starred in the ABC movie “Same Time, Next Christmas.” Now she’s ringing in the heart of the holidays with concerts at the New York Society for Ethical Culture Thursday through Saturday.
Here, Michele dishes on the Christmas song she wouldn’t touch, her least favorite holiday tradition and a possible “Glee” reunion.
It’s pretty daunting to write an original Christmas song, but you co-wrote “Christmas in New York” on your new album.
I kind of just blocked out all of that pressure, and I just really focused on writing something that was special to me. It was really important for me to have one song on this album that could be my love letter to New York City. No matter where in the world I’m working, I always make sure that I come home for the holidays, and I wanted to write a song that talked about all of the places in the city that are so gorgeous during the holidays.
What’s your favorite thing about Christmas in New York?
Definitely seeing the tree in Rockefeller [Center]. I got to sing at the tree-lighting ceremony this year, and as a New Yorker that was such a dream come true for me. The minute you see that tree all lit up, you know it’s Christmastime. It’s just so beautiful and such a special part of New York.
You reunite with your “Glee” co-star Darren Criss on “White Christmas.” How’d that come about?
He’s one of my closest friends, and I honestly couldn’t think of making this record without him singing on it. He’s such an amazing singer and performer, and such a special person in my life. I wanted to make sure that all of the guests on the record have a bit of a Broadway background, because that Broadway sound was very important to me. And I also wanted to make sure that everyone was friends and family that I have great memories with.
Speaking of Broadway connections, you also collaborate with Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Groff on this album.
Cynthia is a dear friend, and she’s an incredible performer. I was so honored that she said yes to singing on this record. And Jonathan Groff is my best friend in the entire world. He’s basically my brother. We knew each other from “Spring Awakening,” so we’ve known each other now for about 13 or 14 years. We sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” together on the record, and it’s funny because when we were performing on Broadway, we used to do small holiday benefits and sing this version of the song. So it’s really sort of full-circle now.
What’s the first Christmas song that you can remember singing as a kid growing up?
As a little girl, I really loved “Santa Baby.” We had this great Christmas compilation called “A Very Special Christmas.” Madonna sings “Santa Baby,” and I always remember listening to that and singing along.
Is there any Christmas song that you would never touch because it’s too perfect the way someone else did it?
I definitely think that the way Mariah sings “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is just so incredible. It’s a special song — and the way she did it is honestly perfect. But I’m always down for a challenge.
What’s your least favorite Christmas tradition?
Probably when we have to pack up the tree.
Do you ever see there being some kind of “Glee” reunion in the future?
You know, I always say that I would be the first in line to do a “Glee” reunion. I absolutely loved playing Rachel Berry; it was such a dream for me. And so I would love that, of course.